UFF-FGCU Bylaws
FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY CHAPTER
of the
UNITED FACULTY OF FLORIDA
BYLAWS
APPROVED April 4, 1997
Amended June 6, 1997
Amended February 20, 1998
Amended 23, 2001
ARTICLE I
This organization shall be known as "The Florida Gulf Coast University Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida."
ARTICLE II
Objectives
Section 1. To bring faculty and professional employees of universities into a relationship of mutual assistance and cooperation in order to obtain for them the rights and privileges to which they are entitled.
Section 2. To promote a democratization of the university that will enable members to better serve the people of the State of Florida.
Section 3. To achieve and safeguard academic freedom.
Section 4. To oppose racism, sexism, and other forms of arbitrary discrimination in the State University System.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1. All faculty and professional employees in the United Faculty of Florida bargaining unit shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2. Associate membership, without the right to vote, shall be open, upon the approval of the Executive Committee, to members who retire or withdraw from the profession and wish to remain in affiliation.
Section 3. No discrimination shall be shown towards members or applicants for membership, because of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political activities, or beliefs.
ARTICLE IV
Officers and Executive Committee
Section 1. Annually, the membership shall elect by secret ballot a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Senator, Alternate Senator and a Membership Officer. The newly elected officers shall assume their respective offices April 1.
Section 2. The President of each Chapter or his or her representative shall serve as a member of the United Faculty of Florida Senate.
Section 3. The officers shall appoint a Chair and Co-chair for Grievances and a Chair and Co-chair for Collective Bargaining.
Section 4. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the elected officers and the Chairpersons of Standing Committees.
Section 5. All officers may serve consecutive terms in the same office.
Section 6. In the event of the resignation or recall of an officer, the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall, within 30 days, appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term of office until the next annual election.
ARTICLE V
Voting and Elections
Section 1. All members in good standing, as certified by the Membership officer by the date of the completion of the election, shall be eligible to vote.
Section 2. Annual election of officers shall take place no later than March 15.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall determine the method for voting on all matters.
Section 4. The acceptable formats for elections are: paper ballots at a general membership meeting, mailed paper ballots, or an electronic ballot. If the membership waives the need for a secret ballot (Section 5 below), a voice vote or show of hands may be used.
Section 5. Elections shall be by secret ballot unless a majority of those voting decide to waive the requirement.
Section 6. Results of elections and referenda will be determined by a simple majority of those voting. Recall of an Officer and amendments to Bylaws require a 2/3 majority of those voting.
ARTICLE VI
Rules of Order
Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order, 9th Ed. Revised, shall govern in all cases not governed by the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VII
Committees
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall appoint the members of each standing committee, ad hoc committee or task force, and shall designate one of them as chairperson.
Section 2. All committees and task forces shall be under the direction of and report to the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII
Duties of Officers and Executive Committee
Section 1. The President shall preside at all Executive Committee and Chapter meetings. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, sign all necessary documents and papers, be responsible for forming all ad hoc committees or task forces, be authorized to file grievances for the entire chapter, and shall represent the Chapter when necessary. The President shall make reports at membership meetings.
Section 2. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his or her absence.
Section 3. The Chair for Grievances shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to grievances filed on behalf of FGCU/UFF chapter members. The Chair for Grievances shall provide periodic reports to the Executive Committee regarding the status of grievances filed by Chapter members.
Section 4. The Chair for Collective Bargaining will serve as the Chapter's representative on the UFF Bargaining Team. The Chair for Collective Bargaining will provide periodic reports to the Executive Committee regarding the status of bargaining efforts. The Co-chair for Collective Bargaining will be authorized to handle the duties of the Chair for Collective Bargaining.
Section 5. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Executive Committee and membership meetings and distribute or supervise the distribution of minutes and other Chapter communication to the membership. Additional duties may be prescribed by the Executive Committee.
Section 6. As chief financial officer of the Chapter, the Treasurer shall exercise supervision over the receipt and disbursement of all moneys, properties, securities, and other evidences of financial worth of this organization and shall prepare financial statements. The Treasurer shall perform or supervise such duties under the direction of the Executive Committee.
Section 7. The Senator serves as the Chapter's representative to and a member of the UFF Senate. The Senator is required to attend a majority of the UFF Senate meetings, usually three a year. The Senator shall make periodic reports to the Executive Committee.
Section 8. The Membership Officer shall perform all duties agreed to by the Executive Committee to improve and sustain membership, and shall certify membership for elections. The Membership Officer shall make periodic reports to the Executive Committee concerning membership.
Section 9. The Executive Committee shall administer the policies of the United Faculty of Florida. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act for the good of the Chapter in emergency situations where policy cannot be set by the membership. The Executive Committee shall also have the power to employ persons on a full or part-time basis.
ARTICLE IX
Chapter Grievances
Section 1. A simple majority of the Executive Committee shall charge the President with filing a grievance for the entire chapter.
Section 2. The Chapter President shall provide periodic reports to the Executive Committee regarding the status of Chapter grievances.
ARTICLE X
Meetings
Section 1. The membership shall meet at least once in the fall and spring semesters.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall hold regular monthly meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Committee. All meetings of the Executive Committee are open to the membership.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee or by request of twenty (20) percent of the membership of the Chapter.
ARTICLE XI
Referenda, Recall, and Bylaw Amendments
Section 1. Referenda, recall of an officer, or Bylaws amendments can be proposed to the membership by the President, the Executive Committee, or by a petition of 20% of the membership.
Section 2. The proposed referenda, recall of an officer, or Bylaws amendment shall be submitted to the membership at least 14 days prior to the vote.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall ensure there is ample opportunity for pro and con arguments among the membership. The voting method shall be determined by the Executive Committee and carried out according to Article V, Section 4.
